Clock



Dec. v15, .1942. A. N. wooDRuFF c "3 hm W Dec. 15, 194.2. A. N. wooDRuFFCLOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2- Filed Aug. 13, 1940 Dec. 15, 1942. A. N.wooDRuFF CLOCK 3 Sheefs-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 13, 1940 Il. ....Il'nurl-nnn"l admi@ 56- 49 Patented Dee. 1s, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOCKAlbert N. Woodrui, Washington, D. C. Application August 13, 1940, SerialNo. 352,442

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in clocks, and its broad purposeis to serve the needs of both laymen and technicians.

A clock of this type is well adapted to be located in a commandingposition in the living room of a home so that it can be consulted notonly for the local time in conjunction with the turning on and olf of aconventional radio or for any other purpose that requires a knowledge ofthe local time, but which' can also be consulted for a determination ofthe local time in some remote locality, thereby to make known to one ormore interested persons what the actual time is at the source of anygiven radio program.

In the second instance the use of the clock is much' more of a technicalnature. It seems unnecessary to list here the various branches ofscientiflc endeavor in which the clock will prove useful, the chosenillustration of navigation being deemed sufficient to convey the idea inmind. Persons acquainted with the technical aspects of navigating aseagoing vessel know that virtually every calculation required to bemade demands a knowledge of the local date and time as an indispensiblefactor preliminary to the use of the Nautical Almanac.

This computation requires a knowledge of the exact local time which, ofcourse, can be had where possible, from the local observatory other thanthe instant clock. But the latter is contrived to continuously indicatethe Greenwich time, and thus supplies an indispensible factor in thedetermination of the local time which might or might not check with theparticular indication of local time supplied by the clock. The obtainingof the foregoing factor involves the use of the graduated circle, thefunction of which is later described in detail. With this premise inmind attention is directed to the specific objects of the inventionwhich are as follows:

First, to provide a clock which is desirably identified herein as aradio model, partly for the purpose of distinction from Patents1,990,012, Feb. 5, 1935, and 2,143,814, Jan. 10, 1939, of Albert N.Woodruil, and partly because said model is peculiarly adapted to use inconjunction with the transmission and reception of radio programs ofvirtually all kinds.

Second, to provide a clock which may and desirably will be used inconjunction with a radio instrument in the continuous indication of theGreenwich time, these being primary factors in determining the exactlocal time, the latter being used 1n nearly every nautical computation.sition and in respect to the and an essential preliminary to the use ofthe Nautical Almanac.

Third, to provide a clock which continuously indicates the Greenwichcivil time and thus supplies a predetermined factor for the purpose ofcomputing the exact local time and this either by a navigator oravigator in the finding of his posurface of the globe.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved clock, showing itsemplacement in a case of a type which will make the time-piece suitablefor use in a living room.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the dial and illustrating theassemblage approximately as it would appear in use on board a ship.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the mechanism immediately beneath the dialin Fig. 2, more specifcally the graduated circle and associated parts.

Figure 4 is an elevation similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts as theyappear after the removal of the graduated circle.

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line of Fig. 2, partly showingthe local hour hand driving mechanism.

Figure 6 is a detail elevation of the graduated circle operating means.

Figure 7 is a cross section taken on the line 'LI-'l of Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a detail cross section taken on the line 3 8 of Fig. 4.

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 2.

Figure 10 is a vertical section taken on the line l0-l0 of Fig. 9.

Figure 11 is a detail Il-H of Fig. 9.

Figure 12 is a detail section taken on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 9.

Figure 13 is an enlarged section of the'handdriving assemblage.

Reference is rst made to Fig. 2 wherein the clock is generallydesignated I. The purpose of this designation is to identify the clockin its entirety and apart from the case (Fig. l) in which it may beemplaced. The clock I (Fig. 2) will in practice also be encased and whenused aboard ship said case will usually consist of a. cylindrical brasshousing made perfectly tight so as to exclude moisture-laden air as faras possible. Whenv using the clock in a home it is generally desirableto provide the more or less section taken on the line ornamental case 2shown in Fig. l'. This arrangement of clock and case is adaptable tovirtually any living room, but obviously the specific design of caseshown in Fig. 1 does not have to be adhered to. l

In virtually all instances provision is made of a door 8 which comprisesa glazed ring. The ring door is hinged at 4-*n one side and providedwith an appropriate catch 5 on the other side. From here on thedescription is confined to the clock itself, no further reference beingmade to the relatively immaterial clock case. The dial 8 in Fig. 2consists of an appropriate sheet which is backed by a plate 'I (Fig. 9).The dial plate 1 is desirably made of brass, and it has the dial Sfirmly secured to the front face of it by means of cement. The dial 6 ispreferably White and the inscriptions upon it are as follow.

A circumferential series of fairly large numerals 8 will designate thelocal time. Thesenumerals run from 1 to 12 according to custom,excepting that in this instance the numeral 6 is omitted because of thepresence of a hole at that place. A second circumferential series ofnumerals 9 comprises what is herein known as the Greenwich hour zone.This zone has places for twenty-four numerals, there being an exceptionin the instance of the 24th numeral, which is occupied by an opening.The numerals in the second series comprise two groups running from 1 to12, note being made again of the absence of the numeral l2` in thesecond group, said numeral being the 24th of the collective secondseries.

The purpose of thus separating the two groups is to set apart the A. M.side I on the right from the P. M. side II on the left. The two groupsare conveniently designated by the A. M. and P. M. legends shown. Acircumferential series of dots I2, I3, provides a line of demarcation,in a sense, between the numerals 8 and 9. The large dots I2 are radiallyemplaced in line with the numerals 8 of the local time zone. The

` small dots I3 are so spaced between the large dots as to designateminute divisions of time.

A third circumferential series of numerals I4 comprises what is hereinknown as the Greenwich or universal time zone. These numerals aredesirably boxed off in a circular grid I5, one of the purposes of whichis to distinguish the Greenwich time zone I4 from the Greenwich hourzone 9. An outstanding distinction is that the grid I5 is spaced for 24hours. The numerals I4 run consecutively from 1 to 24, the 24th numeralpartly encroaching upon the previously mentioned opening.

This opening is now designated I6. 'I'he previously mentioned hole isdesignated I'I. opening and hole go clear through the dial 6 and plate'I (Fig. 9) so as to reveal portions of the graduated circle I8 (Fig. 3)and of the day-night disk I9. The graduated circle I8 is subject solelyto manual operation, while the disk I9 is subject solely to clockmechanism operation. The graduated circle I8 consists of a ring dial 20which is backed by a brass ring plate 2| (Fig. 9). The two are cementedtogether, and the ring dial 20 is inscribed in the following manner. Acircumferential series of numerals 22 nearest the inside perimeter ofthe graduated circle I8 denotes local time zones. These zones aredesirably boxed off in a circular grid 23. They run consecutively from 1to 24 without interruption and they are adapted to appear at the bottomof the dial opening I6 (Fig. 2).

The

A second circumferential series of numerals 24 appears next to theoutside perimeter of the ,graduated circle I8 (Fig. 3). These numeralsare intended to indicate degrees of longitude east of Greenwich. Theycomprise the whole circumference of the globe, and are based on only onedirection of progression from Greenwich, namely, toward the east. Tothis end said numerals conveniently start at 15, and then are steppedof! by increases of fifteen until the zero or 360 position is reached.On the same plan the local time zones are cumulatively numbered fromGreenwich toward the east, and logically so because the time periods ofany given day and in any given locality build progressively as the globerotates toward the east. The time zone in which a particular locality issituated must be determined fromthe longitude of the locality and sinceWashington, D. C. is located in the nineteenth time zone the ring I8 isturned until the numeral I9 appears at the opening I6.

In order to account for the intermediate degree positions acircumferential scale 25 is emplaced between the numerals22 and 24.Portions oi this scale appear at the approximately middle height of theopening I6 (Fig. 2) while the numerals 24 successively appear at the topoi said opening,

'I'he graduated circle I8 is shown set for the 19th time zone,previously stated as being that of Washington, D. C., but it will beobvious that this is merely an arbitrary setting, any and every changedesired being accomplished by the operating means in Fig. 6.

Reverting to the numerals 22 it is stated in further explanation thatthese are intended to agree with the hour meridians stepped off at 15degree intervals from the Prime Meridian, commonly accepted as runningthrough Greenwich which is considered as being in the twenty-fourth timezone. Since the numerals 24 match the radial positions of the numerals22, the reader will understand that when a given numeral 22 of the localtime zone is made to appear at the -opening I6 (Fig. 2), thatcircumstance is accompanied by the appearance of a designation of thelongitude at which said time zone is centered.

To make this statement clear the adopted 19th time zone is used as afurther example. The indicia matching the numerical designation of thistime zone reads 285 (Fig. 2). This means that the 19th time zone iscentered at the meridian 285 degrees remote from the Prime or GreenwichMeridian, reading in the east direction. On the same principle arotation of the graduated circle I8 until the indicia rI5 appears at thetop of the opening I6 will be accompanied by the appearance of thenumeral 5 in the local time zone 22. This means that when the numeral 24which designates the '15th meridian is brought to view in said openingI8, the observer will know that the observation is being made withrespect to the 5th time zone.

For the purposes of the instant clock Washington, D. C. actually islocated on the 283 Meridian East of Greenwich, corresponding with thecurrently adopted "77 Meridian West 0f Greenwich.

At this point it is desired to explain that the International Date Lineis eliminated insofar as the use of this clock is concerned. Instead ofreading the meridians in east and west longitude from the Prime(Greenwich) Meridian to meet half way around the globe at theInternational Date Line according to present-l practice, only auni-directional reading is contemplated herein, namely, east ofGreenwich, thus accounting for the progressive rotation of the numeralseries 24. Before explaining the operation of the graduated circleturning means in Fig. 6, it is desired to introduce more of the clockmechanism.

A plate 28 herein conveniently known as the upper plate, is held rigidlywith respect to a base plate 21 (Fig. 9) by means of a plurality(usually 4) of spacers 28. The plate 28 is not necessarily made in theshape depicted in Fig. 4, but it desirably is formed with a plurality ofradial arms 29, each of which provides the mount for a guide pin 30.There are six of these guide pins, and they are flanged at 3I to containand guide the smooth external perimeter of the graduated circle I8 (Fig.3). Said circle is supported and guided solely by said guide pins andflanges.

Suitable spacers 32 (Fig. 9) rigidly support the field pieces 33 of arotor 34. The field is energized by a coil 35 which has wires 38 adaptedto be connected with a source of electrical current. 'I'he rotor 34 iscarried by a shaft 31 which projects from the rear of a reduction gearbox 38. This rotor, etc. is identical 4with the rotor of any knownelectric clock and more of the details than already given is thoughtunnecessary.

The shaft 39 is to be understood as .a shaft capable of being drivenotherwise than by electrical power; it can be a spring driven shaft. Itcarries an 8tooth pinion 40 (Fig. 12). Said pinion meshes with anddrives a 64-tooth gear 4| which is integrally ailixed to the inner endof the shaft 42 of a second hand 43. As is characteristic with allelectric clocks, the shaft 42 rotates continuously, thereby causing thesecond hand to continuously traverse the dial 8. 'I'his is done at therate of one revolution per minute.

'I'he shaft 42 comprises the core of a driving tube assemblage (Fig.13). Said assemblage comprises two tubes respectively designated 44 and45. The innermost tube 44 carries what is known as the Greenwich minutehand 48. This hand also comprises the local minute hand because itspurpose is to indicate the passing time in minutes, this being arequirement in consulting the clock both for Greenwich and local time.It has motion in reference to the indicia I2, I3 (Fig. 2) which, aspreviously indicated, are spaced at minute intervals.

The minute hand tube 44 is rotated at the rate of one revolution perhour by means of a gear train which begins at an 8tooth pinion 41 on theshaft 42 immediately in back of the gear 4I (Fig. 12). Said pinionmeshes with and drives a 60-tooth gear 48 on a countershaft 48. The endsof this shaft are journaled upon the upper and base plates 28, 21. Itcarries an 8- tooth pinion 58 in mesh with a 64-tooth gear 5I which isfrictionally carried by the inner end of the minute tube 44. The purposeof frictionally carrying the gear 5I is to enable setting the minutehand 48 independently of the clock work by merely taking hold of theminute hand and moving it to the required angular position to indicatethe exact time insofar as minutes are coni cerned.

At such a. time the gear 5| as well as the entire train behind itremains stationary. Said gear is held against an abutment disk 52 by afingered spring disk 53 (Fig. 11). The abutment 52 is made rigid on theinner end of the tube 44. The disk 53 is merely emplaced on the tubebetween the opposite side of the gear 5I and a 12-tooth offtake pinion54 rmly afllxed to the tube 44. Said pinion meshes with and drives a1B-tooth gear 55 (Fig. 10) which carries an 8tooth pinion 58 in meshwith a 48-tooth gear 51. Said gear 51 is xedly attached at 58 (Fig. 13)to the inner end of the tube 45 which on its outer end carries theGreenwich hour hand 59. This hand cooperates with the Greenwich timezone I4 (Fig. 2) from which it may be deduced that said hand 59 rotatesaround the dial 8 once in twenty-four hours.

Upon manually moving the minute hand 48 in the manner and for thepurpose stated above,

lmotion will also be imparted to the hour hand 59 by the same manualeffort. traced from the pinion 54, which it will be remembered can bemanually turned without affecting the gear 5I, through the gear 55, itspinion 58 and the gear 51. Since the latter is flxedly carried by thetube 45 it is readily understandable that the hand 59 must moveinconsequence of the manual turning.

'I'he gear 55 is supported in part by a bracket 58 (Fig. 10) and in partby the upper plate 28. The specific support involves an 8tooth pinion 8|which appears on the upper side of the plate 28 (Fig. 13). Said platehas a hole 82 in which the boss 83 of the pinion 8I has bearing. Saidboss has a threaded extension 84 which because of its reduced diameterprovides the boss 83 with a shoulder 85. The bracket 88 has a hole 88which is occupied by the sleeve 61 of a nut 88. Prior to screwing theextension 84 into the nut 88 it is screwed into the threaded bore 89 ofthe previously mentioned pinion 58 and of the gear 55. 'I'he gear 55 andpinion 58 are rigidly connected to each other by brazing or otherwise,and when the extension 84 is screwed home in the pinion and gear and thenut 88, these parts as well as the pinion 8| are converted into a unitso that the turning of the gear 55 by means of the pinion 84 isaccompanied by a turning of the pinions 58 and 8l and of the nut 88.Since the sleeve 81 of the latter has bearing in the hole 88, it isreadily seen that said unit has an adequate turning support between theplate 28 and the bracket 80.

In addition to the three hands described thus far provision is also madeof a local hour hand 18 (Fig. 2). This hand, as its name implies, isintended to indicate the local hour in the local time zone 8. Since thelatter is arranged on the conventional twelve hour basis it follows thatThis effort is the hand 10 rotates around the dial 8 once every twelvehours. Said hand is carried by a :t0-tooth gear 1I to which said hand isrmly aflixed in any desired way, for example, by means of pins 'I2 (Fig.2). The gear 1I is journalled upon the hub 13 of a sleeve 14 (Fig. 13)which in turn is journalled in an opening 15 in the dial plate 1. Thehub 13 has an outer enlargement 18 which constitutes an abutment for thegear 1I. The latter is journalled upon the hub 13 between the plate 1and the abutment 18. The sleeve 14 provides a bearing for the previouslymentioned tube assemblage, it being the tube 45 which has actual bearingcontact with the sleeve 14. 'I'he latter has two 12-tooth pinions 11,18, aillxed to it. Pinion 11 is of larger diameter than pinion 18 andthese pinions have teeth at different pitch.

pinions 11, 18, the requisite distance from the plate 1.

It will be noted that the number o! teeth shown on the gears in thedrawings does not coincide usually with the number of teeth designatedin the specification, and thisis due to the fact that the number ofteeth on the gears on the drawings is not always accurate since thegears are shown diagrammatically.

Driving motion is imparted to the gear 1| by a 10-tooth pinion 80 (Figs.2 and 5). Said pinion is ailixed to the outer end of a shaft 8| which isjournalled in a hole 82 in the dial plate 1. The inner end of the shaft8| has 9-tooth pinion 83 afilxed to it. Said pinion has a hub 84 (Fig.5) to which a 36-tooth gear 85 is aiilxed. The gear 85 meshes with thelarge pinion 11 (Fig. 3).

Driving power for the local hour hand 10 is derived from the pinion 6|.Said pinion meshes with the inner one 86 of a double faced L8-tooth gear86, 81. Novel mechanical characteristics make it desirable to employ thetwin gears 86, 81 in lieu of a single gear with a double face. The innerand outer gears 86, 81 are secured together at 88 through spacers 89.The pinion 6| meshes only with the inner gear 86 (Fig. 13). Bearing forthe double-faced gear is provided by a sleeve 88a and a nut 89a (Fig.13). These members are screwed together, the eilect being to bind themtightly upon the plate 26 which has a hole to accommodate the sleeve88a. Said members 88a, 89a, are thus ailxed to the plate 26. The sleeve88a provides a bearing for the shaft and tube assemblage while the nut89a provides a bearing for the gear 86.

The outer gear 81 meshes with and drives an 8-tooth pinion 90. Saidpinion carries a 48-tooth gear 9| which meshes with the small pinion 18.Thus the driving power for the local hour hand 10 is traced from thepinion 6| (Fig. 13) through the double-faced gear 86, 81, the pinion andgear 90, 9|, to the pinion set 11, 18. Since the pinion 11 is in meshwith the gear 85 (Fig. 3) and the latter carries the pinion 80 althoughit does so indirectly (Fig. it follows that the local hour hand is setin motion because of the meshing of the pinion 80 with the gear 1I thatcarries said hand.

In order to indicate whether the period of time indication by the hand10 is day or night, the previously mentioned day-night disk I9 is drivenfrom the shaft 8| (Fig. 5) simultaneously with the driving of the hourhand 10. For this purpose the disk I9 actually comprises a '12- toothgear 92. Said disk is driven by the 9- tooth'pinion 83 which is in meshwith the gear 92. The front surface of said disk is divided into whiteand black segments 93, 94, obviously indicating day and night. Saidsurface of the disk is seen in part through the hole I1 in the dial 6.According to the present setting of the clock in Fig. 2, the local timeis 9:00 oclock p. m. Consequently the black segment 94 appears at thehole I1. The time at Greenwich is 2:00 a. In. and since the Greenwichhour hand 59 has passed the vertical center of the dial 6 the observerwill understand that the new day as indicated at 95 has progressed twohours.

The indication provided by the Greenwich hour hand 59 will be that ofthe new day until it reaches the position 96. This signifies theaddition of three hours to the 2 a. m. position at 95, in other words,the passage of three hours local time between the 9 p. m. position ofthe hour hand 10 and the arrival o! that hand at the 12 oclock midnightposition. Thus it will be understocd that when the local hour hand 10denotes l2 oclock midnight local time, the Greenwich hour hand 59 willdenote 5 o'clocka. m. Greenwich time. The new day thus begins withrespect to local time whereas five hours oi' the new day have elapsedaccording to Greenwich time.

The graduated circle I8 comprises a gage, or an index so to speak, toapprize the operator how far to carry an adjustment in the determinationof the time at a remote place. To make this clear, it is assumed thatthe time in Washington, D. C., is 9 p. m. Now if it is desired to knowthe corresponding time in such a locality as St. Louis, Mo., U. S. A.,the graduated circle I8 is turned until the graduation in the scale 26shows at the top of the opening I6. The numeral for the local time zonewill be I8, thus denoting that St. Louis is in the 18th time zone to theeast of Greenwich. At the same time the hour hand 10 will be readjustedin position by gearing hereinafter described until it designates 8 p.m., representing a difference of one hour in time.

It will be clear from the above that applicant has numbered his timezones from 1 to 24 inclusive with Greenwich being in the twentyfourthzone instead of the usual divisions wherein the time zones aredesignated by the numerals 0 to 12 inclusive going westward to theinternational date line after which the time zones are designated from12 to 0 around the remaining portion of the globe. The propermanipulation of the clock will indicate the time zone so that the properhour is registered on the dial. Nevertheless the proper day will not beindicated due to the fact that a day must be added or subtracted whencrossing the international date line.

The foregoing purposes are accomplished by the following means: a thumbwheel 91 is located in an easily accessible position at the top of theclock case 2 (Fig. 1)'. The specific details of this thumb wheel aredisclosed in the Woodruff Patent 2,143,814. An instant improvementthereto is the addition of an upstanding pin 98 which provides for therapid rotation of the thumb wheel. In other words, the pin 98constitutes a crank, and the need for rapidity of rotation is to quicklybring the graduated circle I8 to the desired adjustment with respect tothe opening I6 (Fig. 2).

A shaft 99 (Fig. 9) is surmounted by the thumb Wheel 91. Said shaft issupported by bearings |00, IOI, on back of the upper plate 26. The lowerbearing IOI is a step bearing against which the shouldered bottomterminal |02 of the shaft 99 rests.

Said shaft carries a pinion |03 in mesh with a gear |04. The gear|04`has a circular rib |05 on its back, riding against the upper plate26 to both stabilize said gear and to reduce its irictional bearingagainst said plate to the minimum. The gear |05 has a hub |06 whichrevolves in a hole |01 in the plate 26.

A threaded bore |08 in the gear |05 and its hub |06 contains part of ascrew |09 which is driven through a 24-tooth gear |I0, a 16-tooth gear||I and then through the hub |06. The head |I2 of the screw is drivenhard against the gear IIO whereupon the screwing on of the nut I I3makes a unitary assemblage of the gears |04, |I| and ||0, saidassemblage being adapted to rotate as a unit.

The gear IIO meshes with the internal teeth of a D14-tooth ring gear |I4(Fig. 4) which is flxedly secured at plural places to the back of thegraduated circle I8 more specifically to the ring plate 2| (Fig. 9) Thusthe manual rotation of the thumb *wheel 91 will produce a turning vofthe graduated circle I8, but simultaneously with the latter operation itis intended to move the local hour hand 10. This is accomplished by thefollowing gearing:

The gear ||I meshes with a 2li-tooth gear ||6 (Fig. 6) which isappropriately ail'ixed to a 25- tooth gear ||1 immediately beneath.These gears revolve as one being commonly mounted on a screw stud ||8driven into the plate 26. The primary purpose of the gear ||1 is to turna 96-tooth gear |I9, but this function is delegated to a 24-tooth idler|20, the necessity for which arises from the requirement of having thehour hand 10 move in the same direction as the graduated circle I8according to either direction of rotation of the thumb wheel 91.

To explain this point, a clockwise rotation (looking down on it) of thethumb wheel 91 will result in a. clockwise turning of the gear IIS and acounter-clockwise turning of both the hour hand 10 and the graduatedcircle I8. Conversely a counter-clockwise turning of the thumb wheelwill result in a reversal of directions so that the hour hand 10 will bemoved in the clockwise direction while the graduated circle I8 will beturned likewise.

In either direction of turning of the graduated circle, one revolutionthereof is accompanied by 2 revolutions of the local hour hand 10 tomatch the conventional 12hour local time zone 8. Therefore the functionof the 25tooth gear |I1 is to cause 2 revolutions of the local hour handto one revolution of the graduated circle. The hour hand 10 is thus keptin step, so to speak, with the graduated circle, remembering that the24-hour amplitude of the hour hand 10 must be coordinated with the 360angularity of the scale 25.

'Ihe driving coordination between the graduated circle |8 and the localhour hand 10 is traced from the gears III, (Fig. 9). Said gears arerotated as a unit through the gear |04 when the pinion |03 is revolvedby means of the thumb wheel 91. Gear I actuates gear ||6 which 'by meansof its companion II1 turns the idler |20 (Fig. 6). the planetary motionof its carried gear set 90, 9| around relative stationary gear 81revolves the pinion 11. The latter revolves the gear 85 which incarrying the pinion 80 (Fig. 5) revolves the gear 1| and its local hourhand 10. At the same time the gear ||0 drives the gear ||4 of thegraduated circle I8.

The previously mentioned gear 9| (Fig. 3) is carried around with thegear ||9 as the latter is rotated by means of the idler |20. Said gear9| is journalled on a bracket |2| which is riveted at |22 to the gearI|9 in sufliciently spaced relationship to accommodate the virtuallyintegral pinion 90. Said pinion has a shouldered shaft |23 (Fig. 9) tothe threaded end of which is screwed a. nut |24. The arrangement holdsthe gear 9| and pinion 90 together as a gear set, but provides for thefree turning of the two with respect to the bracket |2|. The gear set90, 9| has a planetary motion around the relatively stationary gear 81as previously explained. The details are shown very, clearly in Fig. 13.The gear ||9 is a ring gear, and it has an internal rabbet |25 (Fig. 8)at which the heads and Said idler turns the gear ||9 and by shoulders|26, |21 of studs |28 have bearing to support said gear against theplate |26.

The operation is readily understood. It is desired to consecutivelytrace the source of power under which the various hands are actuated inorder to avoid the necessity of reading through the respective portionsof the description which, necessarily, are replete with incidentaldetails.

First, the second hand 43 is driven continuously by power applied to itsshaft 42 from the motor 38 by way of the pinion 40 on the driving shaft39, and the gear 4| on the second-hand shaft 42.

Second, the Greenwich minute hand 46 is driven by the motor 38 by powertaken from the shaft 42 by way of the pinion 41 on said shaft and themeshing gear 48 on the countershaft 49. Said shaft carries the pinion 50which meshes with and drives the gear 5I on the minute tube 44. Saidgear 5| it will be remembered, is held frictionally on the tube so thatmanual adjustment of the minute hand 46 will not disturb the gearingbehind it.

Third, the Greenwich hour hand 59 is driven by the motor 38, but moreremotely therefrom than the others by means of the pinion 54, fast onthe tube 44, in mesh with the gear which in turning carries itsvirtually integral pinion 56 with it, thus to turn the hour tube 45because of the latter xedly carrying the gear 51 in mesh with the pinion56.

Fourth, the local hour hand 10 is most remote from the driving motor 38.The tracing of its power may be limited to the pinion 6| (Fig. 13). Saidpinion is one member of the unit 55, 56, 6|, of which the pinion 56 wasrecently described as being the driver for the hour tube 45. Said pinion6| drives the double-faced gear 86, 81, the member 81 of which drivesthe sleeve 14 through the train 90, 9|, 18, 11.

Said sleeve 14 is independent of the gear 1| despite the fact that it isthe latter which carries the local hour hand 10. Motion is transmittedto the latter from the sleeve 14 by means of the gear 85 (Fig. 5) inmesh with the pinion 11. The shaft 8| which carries the gear 85 alsocarries the pinion 80 and since it is the latter that is in mesh withthe gear 1| it is readily seen how the local hour hand is made to move.

Simultaneously with this movement of the local hour hand the day-nightdisk |9 (Fig. 3) is made to move in back of the hole I1 (Fig. 2) bymeans of its gear 92 in mesh with the pinion 83 on the previouslymentioned shaft 8|.

Fifth, in reverting to the manual adjustment of the minute hand 46 itwill be remembered that the purpose of frictionally holding gear 5| isto allow said setting without disturbing the gearing behind it. Saidadjustment of the minute hand 46 also aiects the Greenwich hour hand 59and also the local hour hand 10, and necessarily so, because thepositions of these hands should be properly distributed with respect toeach other.

So in manually moving the minute hand 46 motion is imparted to the gear55 by means of the pinion 54 fast on the tube 44, transmission beingmade through the pinion 56 (Fig. 13) to the gear 51 on the tube 45 andconsequently to the Greenwich hour hand 59.

Since the pinion 6| (Fig. 13) responds to the movement imparted by thegear 55 it follows that the double-faced gear 86, 81, will turn on itsbearing. Both the pinion and gear 9| will turn. transmitting motion tothe sleeve 14. The pinion 11 of the latter thus turns the gear l85 andsince the latter is coupled with the pinion 80 (Fig. 5) and said pinion80 meshes with the gear 1i, it follows that the local hour hand 'l0 willbe adjusted in response to the motion of said gear 1i.

Now dealing with the normal use of the clock it must be clear that aslong as the motor 38 remains in operation, the second hand 43 willtraverse the dial 6 once every minute; the hand 46 will traverse thedial once every hour; the hand 58 will traverse the dial once every 24hours while the hand 10 will traverse the dial once every 12 hours.'I'hus the rates of the hands 46, 10 and 59 is 24:2:1 in a 24-hourperiod.

Having made clear the mechanical functioning of the clock, it is desiredto conclude this description with a brief summary of its fundamentalpurpose. It must be apparent that the indication of the local time bythe hour and minute hands 10, 46, must be subject to error if the userof the clock fails to reset the hands when passing over the hourmeridiana. 'I'hus the clock may indicate 9 p. m. (Fig. 2) which may becorrect for the zone of one hour meridian. whereas actually the time maybe either 8 or 10 p. m, should the user have failed to reset the handsin passing onto the next time zone.

But the Greenwich hour hand 59 does indicate the correct hour as ofGreenwich, based on the presumption that the clock mechanism is inaccurate operation, the indication of the Greenwich hour hand 59 thenbeing used for a resetting of the local hour hand 1u in establishing theexact local time.

This is done by adjusting the graduated circle Il. First it is necessaryto determine the degree position of the conveyance with respect to thesurface of the globe. This is done by the commonly used principle ofdead reckoning. The thumb wheel B1 is then turned until the degreeindication 24 shows at the opening IB. 'Ihe changed local timeindication 22 will also appear, but in the process of turning thegraduated circle I8, the local hour hand 10 responds to a resetting sothat it indicates the exact local hour.

I claim:

1. A clock comprising a dial having a plurality of concentric sets ofnumerals arranged on the following order: a twenty-four hour universaltime zone numbered from 1 to 24, a twelve-hour local time zone numberedfrom 1 to l2, a Greenwich time zone located between the foregoing zones,being separated into A. M. and P. M. sides and spaced for twelve hourdivisions on each oi.' the sides, a series of measured indiciaconcentric to the numeral sets and dividing the local and Greenwich timezones, a local hour hand confined to the local time zone, a Greenwichhour hand adapted to traverse both the universal and Greenwich timezones, a minute hand working in conjunction with both hour hands, asingle power source for all of the hands, and a gear train for each ofthe hands, all of said trains converging upon said single power sourceand moving the minute, local hour and Greenwich hour hands on a ratio24:2:1 in a twenty-four hour period.

2. A clock comprising a dial, hour and minute hands to traverse thedial, a motor having ay minute gear train coupled to and driving theminute hand, an oiitake pinion situated in said train, and an hour geartrain coupled to the hour hand and taking its power from the minute geartrain, said hour gear train comprising a gear unit consisting of a gearand pinion, said gear being in mesh with the oitake pinion, a doublefaced gear consisting of two connected thin gears, one oi' which is inmesh with the unit pinion, a gear and pinion couple of which the pinionis in mesh with the other thin gear, a gear to which the hour hand isattached, and a set of pinions meshed in train form from the hour handgear to the gear of said couple.

3. A clock comprising a dial, hour and minute hands to traverse thedial, a driving tube assemblage to one tube of which the minute hand isattached, a motor providing the power source for the minute hand andhaving a minute gear train terminating at said one tube. an oiltakepinion connected to said tube. two bearings for said tube assemblage,and an hour gear train coupled to the hour hand and taking its powerfrom the minute gear train, said hour gear train comprising a gear unitconsisting of a gear and pinion, said gear .being in mesh with theotftake pinion, a double faced gear consisting of two connected thingears, one of which is journaled on one of the two bearings and is inmesh with the unit pinion, a gear and pinion couple or which the pinionis in mesh with the other thin gear, a gear to which the hour hand isattached, said gear being journaled on the other one of the twobearings, a pair of pinions of which one is in mesh with the hour handgear, and pinion means atiixed to said other bearing, being in mesh withthe other one of said pair of pinions and with the gear of said couple,causing incidental turning of the respective bearing but avoidinginterference with turning o! the tube assemblage.

4. In a clock, a pair of plates in confronting and spaced relationship,a driver tube and shaft assemblage in telescopic relationship andspanning the distance between said plates, a bearing aiiixed to one ofthe plates for the support of one end of the'assemblage, and a bearingrevoluble in the other plate for the support oi.' the other end of theassemblage.

5. In a clock, a dial having two sets of numerals thereon, a hand foreach set oi numerals, a. revoluble driver member to which one of thehands is secured, a gear to which the other hand is secured, a revolublesleeve in which the driver member is journaled and upon which said gearhas bearing, and a gear train between said sleeve and gear for rotatingthe gear by the revolution of the sleeve.

6. In a. clock, a pair of hands, separate means for rotating the handsindependently, said means consisting of a revoluble driver member to oneend of which one of the hands is secured, a pair of iixed supports, abearing on each support for the driver member, one bearing being clampedtight the other being rotatable, and a gear train for moving the otherhand, said train including components secured respectively to the otherend of the driver member, journaled on the tight bearing, secured to therotatable bearing to cause the rotation, and Journaled independently onthe rotatable bearing, the latter component having the other handsecured thereto.

7. In a clock, at least one fixed support having a hole therethrough, arevoluble driver member, bearing means for said member including asleeve occupying the hole and a nut secured to the sleeve, the sleeveand nut being clamped tightly against the support and the nut having ashoulder, and a driver train of which said member is a part, said trainalso including a double gear consisting of two gears secured together,one of the gears being iournaled on the shoulder, the other gearstanding out beyond the nut.

8. In a clock, a dial having an opening and a sequence of numerals to beconsulted for a 24- hour period, an hour hand to traverse the dial andits numerals, a ring graduated in the 360 of a circle, said graduationsbeing supplemented with numerals periodically numbering the graduationsand other numerals spacing oi the graduations in hour time zones, asmall portion of the graduations and numerals being visible in saidopening, a clockwork culminating at the hour hand and regularly movingsaid hand at a measured rate in respect to the dial and graduated ring,a manually operable gearing cul-l minating both at the graduated ringand at said hand for accomplishing the movement of the handindependently of the clockwork and at the Cil same time moving the ring,and a shaft for actuating thegearing having a thumbwheel for makingsmall but accelerated movements of the hand and ring, said thumb-wheelhaving a crank pin for rapidly turning the shaft and spreeding theadjustments of the-hand and ring.

9. In a clock, a` iixed support having a hole, a shaft mounted on saidsupport crosswise of the hole, said shaft carrying a pinion, gears onopposite sides of the support, one of the gears meshing with the pinionand having a hub riding in the hole, the other gear having a hub, meanssecuring the hubs in abutment, and a circular rib on said one gearengaging the support and providing a limited but adequate bearingcontact.

ALBERT N. WOODRUFF.

